Brake for velocipedes



(No Model.)

9. OO 0o 1|.. 9, ,Vv 1 u TU, d e .Lb Sn M e NEM Mw RL E E VV Oum m Hm AA ln B 2. 6 4, 6 0 4 a N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AL ERT H. OVERMAN, OFNEVVTON, ASSIGNOR TO THE OVERMAN WHEEL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRAKE FOR VELOCIPEDES.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,462, dated July 9, 1889.

l i Application tiled May 1'7, 1889l Serial No. 311,172: (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. OVERMAN, residing at Newton, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipede-Brakes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to an improvement in velocipedes, the object being to produce a brake of simple, durable, and reliable coustruction, which 'will not rattle when in use.

With .these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as Will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a broken view, in perspective, showing the application of my invention to a front-steering rear-driving bicycle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the shoulder and seat which form apoint of purchase for the spring; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the spring and the brake-spoon.

As herein shown, the brake-spoon yA is suspended in a virtually vertical position upon a pivot B, located just within the forward end of the fork O, which carries the rear drivingwheel of the machine. The upper end of the said brake-spoon lis provided with a cross-bar D, the opposite ends whereof are respectively connected with the lower ends of two light connecting rods or wires E E, having their upper ends respectively connected with the opposite ends of a similar cross-bar F, located at the upper end of the upright arm of a bellcrank lever G, pivoted between lugs II I-I, projecting forward from the sleeve I, through which the steering-rod J passes. The horizontal arm of the lever Gis flexibly connected with the lower end of a two-part adjustingrod, composed of parts K and L, clamped together by a screw M and having its upper end connected with the inner end of the curved hand-lever N pivoted in a clip O, secured to the handle-bar P and provided with a-handpiece Q, located in front of the adjacent handle R of the said bar. The said brake-spoon, connecting-rods7 bell-crank lever, adj Listing-rod, and hand-lever constitute a series of levers or connected brake parts, forming a ,brake-train. A spring consisting of ends S S, coils T T, and a loop U, is combined with the frame of the vehicle, so as to press upon the upper end of the brake-spoon with the eifectrof constantly pushing the said end of the spoon rearward. This action of the spring is transmitted through the braketrain, and operates to press a shoulder V, lformed `in the hand-lever, against the handlebar, which forlns a seat for it, as at W, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, the said shoulder and seat formingapoint of purchase from which the spring operates in keeping the train under tension. As the spring, and hence the train, is constantly under tension, the slack or play in the train is always taken up, whereby the train can never rattle, thus avoiding annoyance and wear. The amount of tension so secured may be regulated by adjusting the adjusting-rod to lengthen or shorten it. To set the brake, the shoulder rcferred to is pressed against its seat and the adjusting-rod lengthened until the spring is under sufficient tension to normally hold the shoulder against the seat under all ordinary conditions of use.

It is apparent that I am not limited in practicing my invention to the system of levers shown and described, for one or more levers, however constructed or arranged, having a spring at one end and a stop or seat at the other end may fulfill the purposes of my invention. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my inventiomwhat I` claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a velocipede, the combination, 'with a brake composed of one or more levers, of a spring located at one end of such lever or levers, and a seat located at the other end thereof and forming a point of purchase for the spring for holding the lever or levers against rattling, substantially as set forth.

2. In a velocipede, the combination, with a IOO brake-train consisting of connected series of brake pzarts7 of a spring,` located at one end of the train and a seat located at the other end thereof and forming' a point of purchase for the spring,` for holding the train under tension and against rattlin g, substantially as set forth.

3. In a Velocipede, the combination, with a lon gitudinally-adj ustable brak e-train consisting of a connected series of brake parts, of a spring located at one end of the train and a seat located at the other end thereof and forming a point of purchase for the spring in holding the train under tension and against rattling, substantially as set forth.

4E. In a rear-driving` front-steering bicycle, the combination, with a brake-spoon placed for engagement With the driving-Wheel,'con- ALBERT H. OVERMAN.

Vitnesses.

LUTHER WHITE, WV. L. BLACKMER. 

